Trump Announces a “Super Intelligence Force” as AI Debate Intensifies

President Donald Trump has announced a new federal “Super Intelligence Force” intended to streamline the government’s AI efforts, adding a fresh institutional element to Washington’s response to the technology. The announcement comes as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argues that AI companies should manage their own risks, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly criticizes Anthropic’s exploration of model consciousness and religion. Away from Washington and the labs, Nvidia has raised the price of its seven-year-old Shield TV Pro, citing sharply higher memory and component costs.

Trump Unveils a Federal “Super Intelligence Force”

President Donald Trump announced the formation of a federal Super Intelligence Force, according to reports from TechCrunch and the Times of India. The initiative is described as an effort to streamline government AI initiatives and engage stakeholders including consumers and major technology companies.

The announcement followed a meeting with technology leaders and was presented as part of the effort to keep the United States ahead in AI while navigating its risks. The available reports do not specify the force’s membership, legal authority, budget, or operating timetable, leaving those details unresolved.

Bessent Rejects Calls for Government AI Guardrails

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said AI companies should own their risks and produce solutions rather than rely on new government intervention, according to Bloomberg. In comments reported by Business Insider, he compared technology executives seeking regulation to Hannibal Lecter while criticizing what he called alarmism without solutions.

Bessent said the labs had been cooperative with the White House and cited OpenAI’s decision to shelve a model after internal tests raised questions about whether it would follow users’ instructions. His remarks put the administration’s preference for industry self-policing in direct contrast with AI leaders who have called for government guardrails.

Altman Warns Against Treating AI as a Religious Force

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he was “very uncomfortable” with people trying to ascribe religious force to AI models or surrender human judgment to them, calling that a safety issue in a post on X. Axios and Business Insider reported the comments as a veiled criticism of Anthropic.

The criticism followed reports that Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah had held meetings with religious leaders about model consciousness and morality. The supplied reporting does not establish Anthropic’s formal position on consciousness, but it does show the issue becoming a public point of disagreement between the two companies and their leaders.

Nvidia Raises the Shield TV Pro to $299.99

Nvidia has raised the price of its Shield TV Pro by $100, bringing it to $299.99, while discontinuing the non-Pro Shield model, according to Ars Technica. The streaming box’s latest version dates to 2019, making the increase notable because it affects an aging consumer product rather than a new AI device.

An Nvidia spokesperson attributed the change to substantially higher component costs, including memory. Wired likewise reported the increase as part of the broader pressure on memory-related products associated with AI demand.

Several Details Remain Open

The new federal force still needs a defined mandate and structure, while the administration’s preference for voluntary industry action leaves the scope of future AI oversight uncertain. The Altman-Anthropic dispute is also unresolved, and Nvidia’s Shield price increase offers a concrete consumer sign of the component-cost pressures cited in the reporting.